Refrigerator tray support



4Ot. 20, 1931. 0, M, OTTE REFRIGERATOR TRAY SUPPORT Filed Aug. 2l, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet lll/ll l l l l l Il l Il www. W @MW 9 Oct. 20, 1931. O, M, OTTE Y 1,828,435

REFRIGERATOR TRAY SUPPORT Filed Aug. 21, 1936 2 sheets-sheer 2 A 'II'.IIIII (/zcz Patenfeaoa. zo, 1931 UNITED STATES AP ryrulafi- .o1-FICE omen. orrn', or' PENNSYLVANIA nnrnrennnron TRAY surron'r applicati@ mea August 21, 1930. serial 10.476,809.

Thisinvention relates to refrigerators and more particularly to shelves for refrigerator compartments which may, be slid in and vout of the refrigerator compartment (within which they are normally positioned) .for the purpose of easily placing materials thereon and removngfthe same from said shelves.

v With the advent of the present day household refrigerators and particularly those :llo equipped with refrigerating units, it has become customary to make the interior walls of metal and to either coat the same with vitreous enamel or enamel paint or make the s ame from arustless orstalnless metal.

supports for the shelves are nowI usually struck up'from the metal of the walls so as to form inwardly extending projections.

' 1n designing the so-called sliding shelves forl use in these refrigerators, a number of things must be takenlnto considerationin order to make suchshelves satisfactory.

They must be relatively cheap to manu facture; they must be easy to assemble and install; they must be vcapable of being supported and removably held in place without materially'departing from the type o-f shelf holding orv supporting means now employed; they must be capablerof being moved l(slid) in vand out of the refrigerator compartment 3o without chattering and with littleeifort on the part of the user.

An object of -this invention is to produce a sliding shelf structure 'for refrigerators having all of the aboveattributes and which from a commercial point of viewis highly satisfactory.

Other and further objects will be apparent to those skilled in this particular art orwill l .cfa .portion of a supporting framework and guideway member.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation and section of a pivoted locking means utilized in connection'with the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the inventionl as usedifor extended or multiple compartments; and y Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation and secl tional view of a modified form of supportingy rod.

throughout the several views.

Similar numerals referto similar parts Referring first to'. Figs'l and 2, the nl lg meral 10 indicates a fragment of a refrigf erator construction wherein, for example, an

inner and. outer metallic lining 11 and 12 has an insulating layer 13 therebetween. The

particular construction ofthe refrigerator vis of no particular consequence here exce t y that-the inner layer should preferably e metallic,' although such is not absolutely essential. In the present instance, however,

the inner metallic lining 11 has formed there in a nuinber of struck-up-'or punched-up portions 14 of .such a character 'as to merely form a` projection or protuberance without,

` however, in any way interrupting the continuity o'f the metal lining; in other words, f

thel lining Vremains .unbroken and unperforated at all times. These projections or' protuberances 14 are easily formed at any suitable stage in the formationof the refrlgf erator. such projections and there may be, of course, any desired number ldepending upon the number and arrangement of the supportmg rods 15. v

As indicated in Fig. 1 there are four These rods, as shown, extend vfrom side wall to side wall of the compartment and the ends thereof are threaded as at 16 for a considerable portion of their length. Threadedon these threaded portions 16 are the members or elements 17 which, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a cupshaped lelement having a central linteriorly threaded aperture so that it ma be screwed on and 0E the rods 15, if desire These elements are, in effect, wing nuts, the wings be- I ing, of course, entirely optional and merely f `assisting in the tightening or handling therelof. By threading one of these nuts on each the reception of sliding trays or the like, I

, have provided the guideways 18 arranged transversely of the supporting rods which, in general, run across the compartment, whereas, the guideways are parallel to the depth dimension of the compartment. The guidewaysare not directly connected to the supporting rods although it'might be possible to braze or weld the same directly thereto, but the supporting elements 19 are provided which consist of a depending flange 20, apertured to receive the supporting rods 15 and having a nut 21 on each side thereof so as to position the same at the desired location. At the top of the flange are a number of oppositely extending tabs or the like 22 which are spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to the exterior of the guideways. As shown in Fig. 3 instead of providing struck-up pro- ]ecting, or protruding portions 14 in the metal lining 11 the same is provided with depressed portions 23 and the wing nut 24 is appropriately contoured to fit thereinto, the same being the reverse of the construction of Fig. 2.

A supporting framework 25 is provided for sliding action in said guideways 18 and a grid or. support member 26 operates slidably in said supporting framework, the arrangement belng such that the supporting grid is normall slidable halfway out of said supporting ramework and said-supporting framework is normally slidable halfway out of said guideways. The members lock in such positions so that in effect the grid or support member is completely outside of the compartment vfor the propenand `efficient access thereto as will be understood. If desired, a rail member 27 may also be provided foi` suitable purposes. This rail or guard member prevents articles from falling or sliding from the tray, should the tray be jerked or moved forward too suddenly. It also act-s as a protection for `more or less fragile articles by keeping them framework 25 and the catch element is, of course, adapted to drop into aperture 30 in guideways 18, as will be understood, in order to prevent accidental overwithdrawal of the elements involved, but said catch element being movable to dotted line position (Fig. 5) for releasing the same from locking position.

In many refrigerators, a comparatively long and narrow compartment is provided, that is, one having a great width compared to its depth and under such circumstances, I have invented a modified supporting structure which I find to be very satisfactory in use in such compartments. In this case also the inner lining member 11 of the refrigerator construction is provided with a plurality of struck-up, projecting, or protruding portions 14 in its side walls, it being understood,

of course, that the construction of Fig. 3 can likewise be used if preferred. In addition to the side wall projections or supports, however, I have also provided similar back and front wall projections for a purpose and resulting in a construction to be now explained.

A central supporting' rod 31 is provided having at its ends elements 17 adapted to cooperate with the projections or offset portions in the back and front walls of the compartment, it being understood that as a general thing the front wall of the compartment has been cut awayleaving only a central element 32. This supporting rod is disposed transversely to the width of the compartment, that is, it is disposed substantially at right angles to the other supporting rods 15, which, instead of extending from side wall to side wall as in Fig.' 1, reading from left to right of Fig. 6, extends from side wall to supporting rod and from supporting rod to side wall, the supporting rod 31 being provided with projections or ofl'set portions 17 similar to those in the inner-lining 11. Thus, not only have I produced a supporting means for a tray in an elongated compartment., but I yhave in effect provided two independent tray supporting rod constructions, each of which, if so desired, can be used or removed independently of,the other. Preferably, I provide the rearward end of supporting rod 31 with a' branch or branches-33 so that a plurality of members are provided to cooperate with a plurality of projections or offset portions in the rear wall, thus providing a stronger and more rigid construction. In other respects the construction is the same as that explained more fully in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 and hence further explanation at this point in connection with Fig. 6 is believed unnecessary.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a still further modification adapted for use in that type of' refrigerator, where the-refrigerating unit is, for example, in the upper righthand corner of the refrigerator. In suchv a case, if a straight supporting rod structure, as above l disclosed, were used the space between the lower end of the refrigerating unit and the,v -rod with its tray member thereon, lwould be' too small to serve'any useful pu' se. Hence y rather than waste thatspace, lave 'devised an arrangement whereby s the rod is constructed with the middle thereof odsetv at 34 so as to bring part of it immediately below` the refrigeratingl unit so that the next rod and tray therebeneath will-provide a compartment of a size odering increased useful- 'ness due to its additional height. Thus, the

odset portions 2d, although positioned on. opposite walls, are not exactly' disposed oppositely, but are disposed od-line to correspond to the bend or odset made the rod 15 atea,

lit is understood,of course, that as many of these supporting rod constructions as is needed or desired may be used-and in an average refrigerator probably three, four, five or more would be used between the bottom and the top of the refrigerator. As is evident all the elements are readil removable for cleaning purposes and the li e merely by loosening the elements 17 cooperating with the irregularities in the side walls. llf so desired, l

ments, inasmuch as it is particularly important not to erforate the side walls thereof, li

- may nevert eless equally well utilize this construction in connection with ovens or the like Where perforations may interfere with the heat conducting properties of the oven structure. v supporting structures in constructing certain vtypes of shelving and in cake or bread boxesv by Letters Patent 'isf l ll also -contemplate the "use vof these and generally' in a multitude of other connections as they may appear.

`Whatll claim asnew and desire to secure l. AMeans for supporting tray structures in refrigerator compartments having unbroken.

side walls consisting of struck-up-'portions in said vside walls','s'upporting rods threaded at their ends extending between said struckup portions, members. on theends of said rods for engaging said struck-up portions, and guideways connected tosaid' rods for slidably `receiving the tray structures.

2. `Means for supporting tray structures in refrigerator compartments having'nnbroken, side walls consisting of depressed portions in said side walls', supporting rods'4v threaded at their ends extending betweensaiddepressed ortions, membersfon the ends ofI said 'rods or engaging said depressed portions, and

ably 'receiving theltray structures.

3, Means for supporting tray structures' in refrigerator compartments having unbroken side walls consisting of protruding osets in said Walls, supporting rods threaded at their ends extending between said offsets, cupshaped members threaded on the ends ofsaid rods for adjustable cooperation with said oil'- sets, connecting members positioned on said rods, and'guideways secured to said connecting members for slidably receiving the tray structures.

'4. Means for supporting tray structures in refrigerator compartments having unbroken sideV walls consisting of receding portions in said walls,`supporting rods threaded at. their ends extending between said portions, proj ecti-ng members threaded on the ends of said rods for adjustable cooperation with said portions,connecting members positioned on` said rods,l and guideways secured to'said connecting members transversely of said rods v for slidably receiving the tray structures.

5. Means for supporting tray structures in refrigerator compartments having unbroken side and end walls including'o'set portions in said side walls, members engaging therewith, supporting rods on which said members are positloned, and guideways supported by and connected to said' rods and adapted to vslidably receive saidv vray structure, said rods extending between s id odset portions and being intermediately interrupted, and a transverse supporting rod engaging said end walls similarly to said first rods and side walls, said'transv rse rod having members adapted'to engage with said first 'rods at the points of interruption.

Ggln a compartment, unbroken side and end walls having odset portions therein, a

`transverse rod having offset portions oppositez the odset portions of said side Walls,

longitudinal rods extendingv between said side wall odset portions and the offset portions in said transverse rod, means on said rods for engaging said offset portions, conn ecting members on said rods and guideways connected thereto for slidably receiving tray structures therein.

" 7. Means for supporting tray structures -in refrigerator compartments having un- ;broken side walls consisting of protrudingy portions in said Walls, supporting rods threaded at their ends extending between said portions, cup-shaped members threaded on the ends of said rods for adjustable cooperation with said portions, connecting members positioned on said rods, and guideways secured to said connecting members for slidably receiving the tray structures, said rods having portions thereof relatively odset.r

8. In a refrigerator compartment havin opposite unbroken walls. provided with o guidewaysconnectedto said rods for lslidset portions, supporting rods extending between said offset portions and having members cooperating therewith to maintain said rods in position, and guideways supported by and connected to said supporting rods for slidably receiving*i tray structures therein, said tray structures being provided with guard means for preventing unintended displacement of articles thereon.

9. A refrigerator embodying a provision chamber Whose walls are providedwith inwardly-extending spaced-apart projections, a frame-structure embodying means for engaging said projections to thereby support the frame and prevent its rear end tilting upwardly and a pair of guide-bars extending fore and aft of the provision chamber and spaced away from the side walls thereof to leave a free space between the bars and the walls, a food-supporting tray supported on said frame-structure and slidable fore and aft thereon so as to be capable'of being withdrawn more or less from the provision chamber, and means carried by the food-supporting structure for engaging a stop on one of said guide-bars to arrest the outward movement of the tray-structure.

10. A refrigerator embodying a provision chamber whose walls are provided with inwardly extending projections, an open frame supported on said projections and locked against tilting at least at its rear end, while in place thereon, said frame being bodily removable from the provision chamber, said frame embodying projection engaging means and a pair of guide-bars extending fore and aft of the provision chamber and spaced away from the side walls thereof to leave a free space between the bars and the walls, a traystructure supported on said guide-bars and slidable fore and aft thereon so as to be capable of being withdrawn more or less from the provision chamber, said tray-structure bemg detachable as a whole from said frame to permit it to be removed from the provision chamber independently of saidA frame, and stop means cooperating between said traystructure and said guide-bars to arrest the outward movement of .said tray-structure at y a predetermined point.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of August,

OTHO M. OTTE. 

